Fancy a night in this haunted house? The first Greenmount After Dark event will be held on Saturday, May 25.Contributed

Council News

Is this the most haunted place in Mackay?

by Advertiser Content

15th May 2019 12:00 AM

Each month the Mackay Regional Council brings you Council Connect. Here is the May edition.

THE iconic Greenmount Homestead has more than 20,000 historical items - and maybe one ghost.

"Many of the volunteers will tell you they have felt a presence, felt uneasy, or felt like they are being watched, and there have been some unexplained happenings," Mackay Regional Council's Fran Mann said.

"Some of the volunteers even report seeing a ghostly figure on the premises."

Greenmount Homestead volunteer Rosemary Payne said some of the volunteers had indeed reported seeing a ghostly figure of a woman.

"We've wondered if it might be Althea, Tom Cook's late sister, but we are thinking it might be Mrs Cook," Ms Payne said.

"She's been seen a few times now and the sightings seem to be happening more lately.

"A few of us were there after a shift one evening, about to leave, when we noticed that Mrs Cook's bed was crumpled and appeared as if someone had been laying in it. The room had previously been immaculate and none of us had gone in there."

Those attending the first Greenmount After Dark event can decide for themselves.

Cr Mann said there were no promises those attending would have a supernatural experience. But the council could promise wine, cheese, crackers and a tour packed with local history.

"We will have a volunteer in every room to share stories about that room and the occupants," she said.

"It should be a really fun night, with a bit of history, some great stories and a little suspense."

The tour kicks off at 6.30pm on Saturday, May 25, and ends with wine and cheese about 8.30pm. Tours cost $10 and just 30 spaces are available.

Greenmount Homestead (five kilometres west of Walkerston) is one of Mackay's most valued historic attractions. The grounds contain a number of buildings, including a 1915 Queenslander homestead, which houses intact a collection of more than 20,000 historical items.

>> To lock in your Greenmount After Dark spot, phone Robert Ryan on 4961 9451 or email robert.ryan@mackay.qld.gov.au, and then bring a torch and wear warm clothes

This week's theme is water sports and there's six activities available, from stand-up paddle boarding at Platypus Beach to swimming classes at the Mackay ARC.

The get-active campaign was created to help battle the bulge, as Mackay was named the most overweight in the state in 2017.

Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation Project manager Robert Simpson said it was something the region had worked hard at reversing as a whole community.

"Since we received that unwanted title, Mackay leaders are rallying together to inspire their tribes and get the community off the couch and moving again," Mr Simpson said.

"In subsequent surveys, the Mackay region has offloaded the heavy title of most obese in Queensland, which shows we are on the right track with a community approach."

Mayor Greg Williamson said the whole community had a role to play.

"We can all make a difference by inspiring a family, a school, a workplace and a friend to get moving and make positive lifestyle changes," Cr Williamson said.

Chair of councils' Sports and Recreation Advisory Committee, Cr Ayril Paton, said there was more than $6000 in fitness prizes up for grabs as an incentive to get moving as part of the Try the 5 campaign.

"Residents can show how they're getting involved in Try the 5 by sharing photos or videos of them being active,'' he said.

"They can upload their photos/videos to council's website or share on social media and hashtag #trythe5.

"Anyone who shares photos or videos will be entered in random draws for weekly prizes and the major prize."

>> To find out more about Try the 5 free sessions and events, go to council's Facebook page or website HERE.

Meet the Try the 5 ambassadors:

Bike Week ambassador Sharon Mills is a keen supporter of women in sport. Founder of Dirt Divas, she is passionate about encouraging women to have a go, especially in mountain bike riding, often considered a male sport. She created Dirt Divas to provide a safe and fun space for females within the world of mountain biking.

Sharon MillsContributed

Bike Week ambassador Sergeant Nigel Dalton has nearly 35 years policing experience. He is passionate about keeping the Mackay community safe. Through his QPS role, he helped create a program "Safety Circus", targeting school students in Year 3 with bicycle road safety messages, leading to much safer roads for young cyclists.

Nigel DaltonContributed

Adrenaline sports ambassador Nikki Giles, of Tri-ActiV8, is a Mackay local who moved to Western Australia in 2009. A year later, she completed her first triathlon and a passion was born. When she moved back in 2011, she supported the biannual Women's Only Tri in Mackay and then Tri-ActiV8 evolved to ensure more women compete all year.

Nikki GilesContributed

Adrenaline sports ambassador Brendan Ross has been involved in scouting since he was a 10-year-old youth member, when he quickly discovered he enjoyed the outdoors and all the opportunities scouting had to offer. He is passionate about encouraging people, young and old, to explore the adventurous activities offered, including abseiling.

Brendan RossContributed

Water sports ambassador Trissi Pearce is an accredited exercise physiologist, sport and exercise scientist, pilates practitioner, stand-up paddle boarding instructor and boxing for fitness/health coach. She has used these skills and experience over 25 years to develop a number of trainers, who now assist in training other clients.

Trissi PearceContributed

Water sports ambassador Chrissy Den Elzen is owner and head instructor of Pro Paddle Mackay. As a competitive stand-up paddle boarder and outrigger paddler, she enjoys nothing more than teaching others. Having competed for many years, locally and overseas, she uses her experience to help people achieve their fitness goals.

Chrissy Den ElzenContributed

Personal fitness/gym ambassador Kay Nyenuh is best known for the slogan: How bad do you want it? He experienced a childhood of helplessness - a refugee as a result of war - and developed a passion for helping people. He started Muscle Garden as a personal training business. Today it is a state-of-the-art fitness facility.

Kay NyenuhContributed

Personal fitness/gym ambassador Sam Cole is a co-owner of Prime Fitness and Health with Lauren Matthews. Their goal is to make fitness fun by including a lot of live music during their workouts. She is passionate about helping people to get their mindset right and often runs events with discussions about mindset followed by an aerobic workout.

Sam ColeContributed

Running/walking ambassador Martin Lambert, of On the Run, started running in his 40s. He discovered that with dedication and hard work his results surpassed his expectations. He has now completed dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons and is an accredited running coach with Athletics Australia.

Martin LambertContributed

Running/walking ambassador Pamela White is the founder of Women Who Walk and Men Too, a local walking group created in January 2018. She started the group when she was manager at a Kathmandu Store, after returning from a four-day walk in Tasmania. Her son and customers asked about joining a walking group. It now has 450 members.

Pamela WhiteContributed

Festival program enticing visitors

AN auburn-haired, hour-glass-figured diva is currently spreading festival fever to visitors at our airport.

The life-size cut-out of classy cabaret sensation Catherine Alcorn is grabbing the attention of flyers and hooking them on heading back to #MackayinJuly.

"It's all about getting the Mackay Festival of Arts program into people's hands and onto planes," said Mayor Greg Williamson.

"Around 50,000 people attended festival events last year in our region, and that's tremendous, but we want to grow that by bringing in more interstate visitors," he said.

A life-size cut-out of classy cabaret sensation Catherine Alcorn (pictured) is popping up wherever Mackay Festival of Arts programs can be found.Contributed

"We are partnering with Mackay Tourism, Mackay Airport and local traders and accommodation partners to spread the #MackayinJuly message."

Cr Williamson said residents would be seeing the cut-out diva around town along with stacks of programs, because businesses were jumping on board to help spread festival fever.

The Mackay Festival of Arts officially kicks off on July 20, and runs until July 28. Fringe events run throughout July.